Zach Galifianakis’ FX Series ‘Baskets’ Gets Awkward in First Clips

FX has released the first pair of clips from Baskets, the network’s new half-hour, single camera comedy series starring Zach Galifianakis as Chip Baskets, a man with a dream of becoming a professional clown who has to settle for a gig at the rodeo when he loses the opportunity to attend a prestigious Parisian clown academy., Galifianakis co-created the series with Louis C.K. (Louie) and Jonathan Krisel (Portlandia, Man Seeking Woman). Krisel directed the pilot and will also serve as Showrunner.

FX gave Baskets a ten-episode first-season order, which will debut in January 2016. The Galifianakis-led comedy marks the first production to come out of FX Productions overall deal with Louis C.K. (who is currently taking an undetermined leave from his Golden Globe and Emmy nominated series Louie) and his production company Pig Newton. Check out the first Baskets clips below.

There’s not a lot to go off of in these first couple of clips, but as demonstrated in his fantastic short-format talk show Between Two Ferns, Galifianakis is a master of mining awkwardness for comedy gold, so I’ll hold off judgement until we get a better look. I also have a lot of trust in FX’s original programming instincts — especially when it comes to comedy. While there’s the occasional misfire (say, The Comedians), with shows like It’s Always Sunny, You’re the Worst, Man Seeking Woman, and of course Louie, their comedy line-up has surpassed HBO (though Veep might be the best comedy on TV full stop) as the most daring, unique, and downright funny on TV.

Here’s the official Baskets synopsis.

In a world constrained by corporate interests and the homogenization of society, one man in Bakersfield, California dares to follow his dream of becoming a professional clown. But after an unsuccessful enrollment at a prestigious clowning school in Paris, the only job he can find is with the local rodeo. Baskets follows Chip Baskets’ (Zach Galifianakis) pursuit of his dream, against all odds, to be a respected clown.

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